Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Mateo 5:17-19)

"Indi kamo maghunahuna nga nagkadto ako diri sa pagbali-wala sang Kasuguan ni Moises kag sang mga ginsulat sang mga propeta. Nagkadto ako diri sa pagtuman sini.

Ang matuod amo ini, samtang yara pa ang langit kag ang duta wala gid sing bahin sang Kasuguan nga madula. Bisan pa ang mga diutay nga bahin sini indi gid madula ang ila kahulugan hasta wala pa matuman ang tanan.

Gani ang bisan sin-o nga maglapas sang bisan labing gamay nga bahin sang Kasuguan kag magtudlo sa iban nga maglapas man, siya ang pinakakubos sa ginharian sang Dios. Pero ang bisan sin-o nga magtuman sang Kasuguan, kag magtudlo sini sa iban nga magtuman man, siya ang labing dungganon sa ginharian sang Dios.

***

Meditation:
Do you view God's law negatively or positively? Jesus' attitude towards the law of God can be summed up in the great prayer of Psalm 119: "Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day." For the people of Israel the "law" could refer to the ten commandments or to the five Books of Moses, called the Pentateuch, which explain the commandments and ordinances of God for his people. The "law" also referred to the whole teaching or way of life which God gave to his people. The Jews in Jesus' time also used it as a description of the oral or scribal law. Needless to say, the scribes added many more things to the law than God intended. That is why Jesus often condemned the scribal law. It placed burdens on people which God had not intended. Jesus, however, made it very clear that the essence of God's law – his commandments and way of life, must be fulfilled.

Jesus taught reverence for God's law – reverence for God himself, for the Lord's Day, reverence or respect for parents, respect for life, for property, for another person's good name, respect for oneself and for one's neighbor lest wrong or hurtful desires master us. Reverence and respect for God's commandments teach us the way of love – love of God and love of neighbor. What is impossible to men and women is possible to God and those who put their faith and trust in God. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit the Lord transforms us and makes us like himself. We are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) because "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). God gives us the grace to love as he loves, to forgive as he forgives, to think as he thinks, and to act as he acts. The Lord loves justice and goodness and he hates every form of wickedness and sin. He wants to set us free from our unruly desires and sinful habits, so that we can choose to live each day in the peace, joy, and righteousness of his Holy Spirit (Romans 14: 17). To renounce sin is to turn away from what is harmful and destructive for our minds and hearts, and our very lives. As his followers we must love and respect his commandments and hate every form of sin. Do you love and revere the commands of the Lord?

"Lord Jesus, grant this day, to direct and sanctify, to rule and govern our hearts and bodies, so that all our thoughts, words and deeds may be according to your Father's law and thus may we be saved and protected through your mighty help."

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Mateo 18:21-35)

Nagpalapit si Pedro kay Jesus kag nagpamangkot, "Ginoo, kon ang akon utod permi lang makasala sa akon, makapila ko gid bala siya patawaron? Makapito gid bala ka beses?"

Nagsabat si Jesus sa iya, "Indi lang hasta sa pito, kundi hasta sa 77 ka beses.

Kay ang paghari sang Dios pareho sa natabo sa isa ka hari nga nagahusay sang mga utang sang iya mga suluguon.

Samtang nagahusay siya sang ila mga utang, may gindala sa iya nga suluguon nga ang iya utang minilyon.

Tungod nga indi siya makabayad nagsugo ang hari nga ibaligya siya bilang ulipon pati ang iya asawa kag ang iya mga bata. Kag ibaligya man ang tanan niya nga pagkabutang agod mabayaran niya ang iya utang.

Ang ginhimo sang suluguon, nagluhod siya sa hari kag nagpakitluoy nga nagasiling, 'Pasensyaha lang ako anay kay bayaran ko gid ikaw sang tanan!'

Naluoy ang hari sa iya, gani ginpatawad siya kag wala na pagpabayara sang iya utang, kag ginpapauli siya.

"Pagpauli sadto nga suluguon nasugata niya ang kapareho niya nga suluguon nga may utang sa iya nga gamay gid lang. Gindakop niya siya kag ginkuga dayon nga nagasiling, 'Bayari ako sang imo utang!'

Nagluhod sa iya ang iya kapareho nga suluguon nga nagapakitluoy, 'Pasensyaha lang ako anay kay bayaran ko gid ikaw!'

Pero wala gid siya nagpasugot. Ginpapriso gid niya ang suluguon nga ato hasta makabayad.

Pagkakita sadto sang iban pa gid nga mga suluguon naglain ang ila buot, gani nagkadto sila sa ila hari kag ginsugid ang parte sa natabo.

Ginpatawag sang hari ang suluguon kag nagsiling, 'Masyado ka kalain nga suluguon. Ginpatawad ko ikaw sa imo utang sa akon tungod kay nagpakitluoy ka sa akon.

Ngaa bala wala mo pagkaluoyi ang imo kapareho nga suluguon pareho sang akon pagkaluoy sa imo?'

Naakig gid ang hari sa iya. Ginpapriso niya siya kag ginpasilutan hasta mabayaran ang tanan niya nga utang."

Dayon nagsiling si Jesus sa ila, "Amo man ini ang himuon sa inyo sang akon Amay sa langit kon indi kamo magpatawad sa inyo kapareho sa bug-os ninyo nga tagipusuon."

***

Meditation:
Who doesn't have debts they need to pay off! And who wouldn't be grateful to have someone release them from their debts? But can we really expect mercy and pardon when we owe someone a great deal? The prophet Amos speaks of God forgiving transgression three times, but warns that God may not revoke punishment for the fourth (see Amos 1:3-13; 2:1-6). When Peter posed the question of forgiveness, he characteristically offered an answer he thought Jesus would be pleased with. Why not forgive seven times! How unthinkable for Jesus to counter with the proposition that one must forgive seventy times that. Jesus made it clear that there is no reckonable limit to forgiveness. And he drove the lesson home with a parable about two very different kinds of debts. The first man owed an enormous sum of money – millions in our currency. In Jesus' time this amount was greater than the total revenue of a province – more than it would cost to ransom a king! The man who was forgiven such an incredible debt could not, however bring himself to forgive his neighbor a very small debt which was about one- hundred-thousandth of his own debt. The contrast could not have been greater!

Paul the Apostle tells us that "the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). There is no way we could repay God the debt we owed him because of our sins and offenses. Only his mercy and pardon could free us from such a debt. There is no offense our neighbor can do to us that can compare with our debt to God! If God has forgiven each of us our debt, which was very great, we, too must forgive others the debt they owe us. Through Jesus' atoning sacrifice for our sins on the cross, we have been forgiven a debt beyond all reckoning. It cost God his very own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to ransom us with the price of his blood. Jesus paid the price for us and won for us pardon for our sins and freedom from slavery to our unruly desires and sinful habits. God in his mercy offers us the grace and help of his Holy Spirit so we can love as he loves, pardon as he pardons, and treat others with the same mercy and kindness which he has shown to us. God has made his peace with us. Have you made your peace with God? If we understand God's love and accept it, than we have no other choice but to be merciful towards others as our heavenly Father is merciful towards us. Are you a peacemaker?

"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury let me sow pardon. Where there is doubt let me sow faith. Where there is despair let me give hope. Where there is darkness let me give light. Where there is sadness let me give joy." (Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi)

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Lucas 16:19-31)

Nagpadayon pa gid si Jesus sa paghambal, "Sang una may isa ka manggaranon nga ang iya bayo malahalon gid kag nagapagusto siya sa manamit nga mga pagkaon adlaw-adlaw.

May isa man ka tawo nga imol nga ang iya ngalan si Lazaro. Ang iya lawas puno sang katol. Ginadala siya didto sa puwertahan sang balay sang manggaranon.

Gusto niya nga makakaon kuntani bisan sang mga pagkaon na lang nga nagakalahulog sa lamisa sang manggaranon. Ginapalapitan siya sang mga ido kag ginadilapan ang iya mga katol.

Sang ulihi napatay si Lazaro kag gindala siya sang mga anghel didto sa tupad gid ni Abraham. Ang manggaranon napatay man kag ginlubong.

Kag sang nagaantos siya sing puwerte gid didto sa lugar nga ginasilutan ang mga patay, nakita niya sa malayo si Abraham kag didto sa iya tupad si Lazaro.

Gani nagsinggit ang manggaranon kay Abraham, 'Amay Abraham, kaluoyi man ako! Sugua si Lazaro nga itum-oy niya sa tubig bisan ang iya na lang tudlo kag patuluan ang akon dila agod mabugnawan, kay puwerte gid ang akon pag-antos sa sini nga kalayo.'

Pero ginsabat siya ni Abraham, 'Anak, sang nagakabuhi ka pa sa kalibutan maayo gid ang imo kahimtangan, kag si Lazaro iya nag-antos. Pero karon ginalipay siya diri kag ikaw nagaantos.

Luwas pa sina, ang imo ginapangayo indi gid mahimo, tungod may dako nga kadadalman nga nagaulot sa aton, nga ang bisan sin-o diri sa amon nga gusto magsaylo dira indi gid makatabok, kag wala man sang may makatabok nga halin dira sa inyo pakadto diri sa amon.'

Dayon nagsiling ang manggaranon, 'Amay Abraham, kon amo gali sina, nagapangabay ako sa imo nga kon mahimo ipadala mo si Lazaro sa balay sang akon amay, kay may lima pa ako ka mga utod nga lalaki, kag paandaman niya sila agod indi sila makakadto sa sini nga lugar nga pulos lang pag-antos.'

Pero nagsabat si Abraham, 'Ato man didto sa ila ang mga ginsulat ni Moises kag sang mga propeta. Dapat pamatian nila ini.'

Nagsabat ang manggaranon, 'Pero amay Abraham, indi sila magpati. Pero kon may napatay nga magkadto didto sa ila, magahinulsol sila sa ila mga sala.'

Pero nagsiling si Abraham, 'Kon indi gani sila magpati sa mga ginsulat ni Moises kag sang mga propeta, ti indi man sila magpati bisan pa may mabanhaw nga patay!' "

***

Meditation:
What sustains you when trials and affliction come your way? Jeremiah tells us that whoever relies on God will not be disappointed or be in want when everything around them dries up or disappears. God will not only be their consolation, but their inexhaustible source of joy as well. Jesus' parable about the afflictions of the poor man Lazarus brings home a similar point. In this story Jesus paints a dramatic scene of contrasts – riches and poverty, heaven and hell, compassion and indifference, inclusion and exclusion. We also see an abrupt and dramatic reversal of fortune. Lazarus was not only poor, but sick and unable to lift himself. He was “laid” at the gates of the rich man’s house. The dogs which licked his sores probably also stole the little bread he got for himself. Dogs in the ancient world symbolized contempt. Enduring the torment of these savage dogs only added to the poor man’s miseries and sufferings. The rich man treated the beggar with contempt and indifference, until he found his fortunes reversed at the end of his life! In God's economy, those who hold on possessively to what they have, lose it all in the end, while those who share generously receive back many times more than they gave way.

The name Lazarus means God is my help. Despite a life of misfortune and suffering, Lazarus did not lose hope in God. His eyes were set on a treasure stored up for him in heaven. The rich man, however, could not see beyond his material wealth and possessions. He not only had every thing he needed, he selfishly spent all he had on himself. He was too absorbed in what he possessed to notice the needs of those around him. He lost sight of God and the treasure of heaven because he was preoccupied with seeking happiness in material things. He served wealth rather than God. In the end the rich man became a beggar! Do you know the joy and freedom of possessing God as your true and lasting treasure? Those who put their hope and security in heaven will not be disappointed (see Hebrews 6:19)?

"Lord Jesus, you are my joy and my treasure. Make me rich in the things of heaven and give me a generous heart that I may freely share with others the spiritual and material treasures you have given to me."

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Mateo 20:17-28)

Sang nagapakadto na sila ni Jesus sa Jerusalem, ginpain niya ang iya mga sumulunod sa mga tawo kay may inugsugid siya sa ila.

Nagsiling siya, "Pamati kamo! Nagapakadto kita sa Jerusalem kag ako nga Anak sang Tawo itugyan didto sa manugdumala nga mga pari kag mga manunudlo sang Kasuguan, kag sentensyahan nila ako nga patyon.

Dayon itugyan nila ako sa mga indi Judio agod yagutaon, hanuton, kag ilansang sa krus. Pero sa ikatlo nga adlaw mabanhaw ako."

Nagpalapit kay Jesus ang asawa ni Zebedeo upod ang iya duha ka anak nga lalaki. Nagluhod siya kay Jesus kay may ipangabay siya.

Gani nagsiling si Jesus sa iya, "Ano ang imo gusto?" Nagsabat ang asawa ni Zebedeo, "Kon mahimo, kon maghari ka na, papungkuon mo ang akon duha ka anak sa imo kilid; ang isa sa tuo kag ang isa sa wala."

Pero ginsabat sila ni Jesus nga nagasiling, "Wala kamo makahibalo kon ano ang inyo ginapangayo. Masarangan bala ninyo ang mga pag-antos nga madali ko na lang antuson?" Nagsiling sila, "Huo, masarangan namon."

Nagsiling si Jesus sa ila, "Masarangan ninyo gani, pero indi ako ang nagapili kon sin-o ang mapungko sa akon tuo ukon sa akon wala. Kay may yara na nga gintigan-an sini ang akon Amay."

Pagkabati sang napulo ka sumulunod kon ano ang ila ginpangayo, naakig gid sila sa mag-utod.

Gani gintawag sila tanan ni Jesus kag ginsilingan, "Nahibaluan ninyo nga ang mga manugdumala sa sini nga kalibutan may gahom sa ila mga sinakpan kag pagusto lang sila kon ano ang ila himuon sa ila.

Pero indi amo ini ang sa inyo. Kay kon sin-o sa inyo ang gusto nga mangin gamhanan, dapat siya mangin suluguon ninyo.

Kag kon sin-o sa inyo ang gusto nga mangin pangulo, dapat mangin ulipon siya sang tanan.

Bisan pa gani ako nga Anak sang Tawo wala nagkadto diri sa kalibutan agod alagaran kundi mag-alagad kag maghatag sang akon kabuhi agod matubos ang madamo nga mga tawo."

***

Meditation:
Who or what takes first place in your life? Selfish ambition drives us to get ahead of others. The prophet Jeremiah complained to God when others plotted to destroy him. Rather than plot his revenge, he prayed for his enemies. When two of Jesus’ disciples tried to get ahead, Jesus did the unthinkable! He told them that the path to glory would be through suffering and the cross. And he wedded authority with selfless-service and with sacrifice – the willing offering of one’s life for the sake of another. Authority without sacrificial love is brutish and self-serving. Jesus used stark language to explain what kind of sacrifice he had in mind. His disciples must drink his cup if they expect to reign with him in his kingdom. The cup he had in mind was a bitter one involving crucifixion. What kind of cup does the Lord have in mind for us? For some disciples such a cup entails physical suffering and the painful struggle of martyrdom. But for many, it entails the long routine of the Christian life, with all its daily sacrifices, disappointments, set-backs, struggles, and temptations. A disciple must be ready to lay down his or her life in martyrdom and be ready to lay it down each and every day in the little and big sacrifices required. An early church father summed up Jesus’ teaching with the expression: to serve is to reign with Christ. We share in God’s reign by laying down our lives in humble service of one another as Jesus did for our sake. Are you ready to lay down your life and to serve others as Jesus did?

On three different occasions the Gospels record that Jesus predicted he would endure great suffering through betrayal, rejection, and the punishment of a cruel death. The Jews resorted to stoning and the Romans to crucifixion – the most painful and humiliating death they could devise for criminals they wanted to eliminate. No wonder the apostles were greatly distressed at such a prediction! If Jesus their Master were put to death, then they would likely receive the same treatment by their enemies. Jesus called himself the “Son of Man” because this was a common Jewish title for the Messiah. Why must the Messiah be rejected and killed? Did not God promise that his Anointed One would deliver his people from their oppression and establish a kingdom of peace and justice? The prophet Isaiah had foretold that it was God’s will that the “Suffering Servant” make atonement for sins through his suffering and death (Isaiah 53:5-12). Jesus paid the price for our redemption with his blood. Slavery to sin is to want the wrong things and to be in bondage to destructive desires. The ransom Jesus paid sets us free from the worst tyranny possible – the tyranny of sin and the fear of death. Jesus’ victory did not end with death but triumphed over the tomb. Jesus defeated the powers of death through his resurrection. Do you want the greatest freedom possible, the freedom to live as God truly meant us to live as his sons and daughters?

"Lord Jesus, make me a servant of love for your kingdom, that I may seek to serve rather than be served. Inflame my heart with love that I may give generously and serve others joyfully for your sake."

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Mateo 23:1-12)

Dayon naghambal si Jesus sa mga tawo kag sa iya mga sumulunod.

Siling niya, "Ang mga manunudlo sang Kasuguan kag mga Pariseo amo ang ginsaligan nga magsaysay sang Kasuguan ni Moises.

Gani tumana ninyo ang ila ginatudlo sa inyo, pero indi kamo magsunod sang ila ginahimo tungod kay lain ang ila ginahimo sang sa ila ginahambal.

Nagahimo sila sang mga mabudlay nga mga pagsulundan para sa mga tawo, pero wala sila nagabulig bisan diutay lang agod matuman ang ila ginsugo.

Ang tanan nga ginahimo nila pakita-kita lang sa mga tawo. Ginapalapad nila ang mga kahon-kahon nga bulutangan sang mga ginpili nga mga pulong halin sa Kasulatan nga ila ginabugkos sa ila agtang kag sa ila butkon. Kag ginapalaba pa nila ang mga gaway-gaway sa punta sang ila mga bayo agod silingon nga sila mga diosnon.

Sa mga punsyon kag sa mga simbahan, gusto gid nila nga magpungko sa mga pulungkuan nga para sa mga dungganon.

Sa mga lugar nga ginatipunan sang mga tawo, gusto nila nga tahuron sila kag tawgon nga mga 'Manunudlo.'

Pero kamo inyo, indi dapat magpatawag nga 'Manunudlo,' kay mag-ulutod kamo kag isa lang ang inyo manunudlo.

Indi man kamo magtawag 'Amay' sa bisan kay sin-o diri sa duta, kay isa lang gid ang inyo Amay, ang Amay nga yara sa langit.

Kag indi kamo magpatawag, 'Agalon,' kay isa lang ang inyo agalon kag siya amo ang Cristo.

Kon sin-o sa inyo ang nagaalagad sa iya kaupod amo ang labaw sa tanan.

Ang nagapakataas sang iya kaugalingon paubuson sang Dios. Pero ang nagapaubos sang iya kaugalingon pataason sang Dios."

***

Meditation:
Who doesn’t want to be admired and honored by others? God, however, sees us truly as we are – beggars and sinners in need of his constant grace and mercy. Jesus chided the scribes and Pharisees for seeking the praise of others by drawing attention to their showy religious practices. In a way they wanted to be good models of observant Jews. "See how well we observe all the ritual rules and regulations of our religion!" In their misguided zeal for religion they sought respect and honor for themselves rather than for God. They made the practice of their faith a burden rather than a joy for the people they were supposed to serve. True respect for God and his ways inclines us to Godly humility and to simplicity of heart – wanting to please God alone.

Was Jesus against calling anyone rabbi or father? Or was he just directing this sharp rebuke to the scribes and Pharisees? Jesus seemed to be warning both his disciples and the religious leaders about the temptation to seek titles and honors to increase one's reputation and admiration by others. The scriptures give ample warning about the danger of self-seeking pride: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbes 16:18). God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6; Proverbs 3:24). Origen, writing in the 3rd century, reminds those who teach and lead to remember that "you have one teacher, and you are all brothers to each other...Whoever ministers with the divine word does not put himself forward to be called teacher, for he knows that when he performs well it is Christ who is within him. He should only call himself servant according to the command of Christ, saying, Whoever is greater among you, let him be the servant of all."

Respect for God and his ways inclines us to Godly humility and simplicity of heart. What is true humility and why should we embrace it? True humility is not feeling bad about yourself, or having a low opinion of yourself, or thinking of yourself as inferior to others. True humility frees us from preoccupation with ourselves, whereas a low self-opinion tends to focus our attention on ourselves. Humility is truth in self-understanding and truth in action. Viewing ourselves truthfully, with sober judgment, means seeing ourselves the way God sees us (Psalm 139:1-4). A humble person makes a realistic assessment of oneself without illusion or pretense to be something one is not. A truly humble person regards oneself neither smaller nor larger than one truly is. True humility frees us to be ourselves as God sees us and to avoid despair and pride. A humble person does not want to wear a mask or put on a facade in order to look good to others. Such a person is not swayed by accidentals, such as fame, reputation, success, or failure. Do you know the joy of Christ-like humility and simplicity of heart?

Humility is the queen or foundation of all the other virtues because it enables us to see and judge correctly, the way God sees. Humility helps us to be teachable so we can acquire true knowledge, wisdom, and an honest view of reality. It directs our energy, zeal, and ambition to give ourselves to something greater than ourselves. Humility frees us to love and serve others selflessly, for their sake, rather than our own. Paul the Apostle gives us the greatest example and model of humility in the person of Jesus Christ, who emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and ...who humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:7-8). Do you want to be a servant as Jesus served and loved others? The Lord gives grace to those who humbly seek him.

"Lord Jesus, you became a servant for my sake to set me free from the tyranny of selfish pride and self-concern. Teach me to be humble as you are humble and to love others generously with selfless service and kindness."

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Lucas 6:36-38)

Magmaluluy-on kamo pareho sang inyo Dios nga Amay."

"Indi ninyo paghukman ang iban agod indi man kamo paghukman sang Dios. Indi kamo magsiling nga dapat sila silutan, agod indi man kamo pagsilutan sang Dios. Patawara ninyo ang mga nakasala sa inyo agod patawaron man kamo sang Dios.

Maghatag kamo agod pagahatagan man kamo sang Dios. Kon maghatag ang Dios sa inyo, ginasukob gid niya sing maayo, ginauyog, ginadasok, kag nagaawas pa antes ibubo sa inyo suludlan. Kay kon paano ang inyo paghatag sa iban amo man ina ang paghatag sang Dios sa inyo."

***

Meditation:
Do you pray for God's mercy for your people and for yourself? And do you forgive those who wrong you? Daniel was ‘shamefaced’ before God because of the unfaithfulness of his people. He acknowklowledged the sins and failings of his own people, and he pleaded with God for compassion and pardon. When we are confronted with our sinful condition and failings we experience guilt and shame. This can often either lead us to cast off pride and make-belief or it can lead us to lose our inhibitions and fall into more shameless deeds! If we are utterly honest and humble before God, we will admit our sins and ask for his mercy and forgiveness. Do you know the joy and freedom of repentance, forgiveness, and a clean heart?

What makes Christians different and what makes Christianity distinct from any other religion? It is grace – treating others, not as they deserve, but as God wishes them to be treated – with loving-kindness and mercy. God is good to the unjust as well as the just. His love embraces saint and sinner alike. God seeks our highest good and teaches us to seek the greatest good of others, even those who hate and abuse us. Our love for others, even those who are ungrateful and selfish towards us, must be marked by the same kindness and mercy which God has shown to us. It is easier to show kindness and mercy when we can expect to benefit from doing so. How much harder when we can expect nothing in return. Our prayer for those who do us ill both breaks the power of revenge and releases the power of love to do good in the face of evil.

How can we possibly love those who cause us harm, ill-will, and grief? With God all things are possible. He gives power and grace to those who know his love and who ask for the gift and help of the Holy Spirit. Paul the Apostle reminds us that "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us" (Romans 5:5) God's love conquers all, even our hurts, fears, prejudices and griefs. Only the cross of Jesus Christ and his victory over sin can free us from the tyranny of malice, hatred, revenge, and resentment, and give us the courage to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). Such love and grace has power to heal and to save from destruction. Do you know the power of Christ's redeeming love and mercy?

"Lord Jesus, your love brings freedom and pardon. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and set my heart free that nothing may make me lose my temper, ruffle my peace, take away my joy, nor make me bitter towards anyone."

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Mateo 5:43-48)

"Nabatian ninyo nga ginsiling sang una nga 'Higugmaa ninyo ang inyo mga abyan, kag dumti ninyo ang inyo mga kaaway.'

Pero ako nagasiling sa inyo nga higugmaon ninyo ang inyo mga kaaway. Bisan pa ang mga nagahingabot sa inyo pangamuyuan ninyo.

Kag kon himuon ninyo ini, mangin matuod kamo nga mga anak sang inyo Amay sa langit. Kay indi lang ang mga maayo nga mga tawo ang iya ginapasilakan sang adlaw kundi pati man ang mga malain. Kag indi lang ang mga matarong ang iya ginahatagan sang ulan kundi pati man ang mga indi matarong.

Indi kamo maghunahuna nga may balos kamo nga batunon halin sa Dios kon maayo lang kamo sa mga tawo nga maayo man sa inyo. Kay bisan ang mga manugsukot sang buhis nga ginakabig ninyo nga malain nagahimo man sina.

Kag kon ang inyo mga kapareho lang ang inyo ginabugno, ano gid ang inyo ginahimo nga labaw sa iban? Bisan ang mga tawo nga wala nagakilala sa Dios nagahimo man sina.

Gani magmangin himpit kamo, kaangay sang inyo Amay sa langit nga himpit."

***

Meditation:
Do you know the love that conquers every fear, sin, and selfish desire? God renews his love for us each and every day. His love has the power to free us from every form of evil – selfishness, greed, anger, hatred, jealously and envy. What’s the distinctive feature of Jesus' life and the life of those transformed by his redeeming love? It's grace – treating others, not as they deserve, but as God wishes them to be treated – with loving-kindness and mercy. Jesus is God's grace incarnate. His love is unconditional and is wholly directed towards our good. God is good to all, the just and the unjust. His love embraces saint and sinner alike. That's why Jesus willingly went to the cross for our sake, to free us from the power of sin, ignorance, and prejudice. God's grace sets us free from everything that would keep us from him and his love. How can we possibly love as God loves and overcome evil with good? With God all things are possible. He gives grace in abundance through the gift of the Holy Spirit, who converts our hearts and minds and teaches us how to live according to God’s truth and love.

Was Jesus exaggerating when he said we must be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect? The original meaning of "perfect" in Aramaic is "completeness" or "wholeness" – not lacking in what is essential. God gives us every good gift in Jesus Christ so that we may not lack anything we need to carry out his will and to live as his sons and daughters. He knows our frailty and sinfulness better than we do. And he assures us of his grace and help to follow in his ways. In the cross of Jesus we see the way of perfect love. Do you want to grow in the knowledge, wisdom, and love of God? Ask the Holy Spirit to set your heart on fire with the love of God.

"Give us, Lord, a humble, quiet, peaceable, patient, tender and charitable mind, and in all our thoughts, words and deeds a taste of the Holy Spirit. Give us, Lord, a lively faith, a firm hope, a fervent charity, and love of you. Take from us all lukewarmness in meditation, dullness in prayer. Give us fervor and delight in thinking of you and your grace, your tender compassion towards me. The things we pray for, good Lord, give us grace to labor for: through Jesus Christ our Lord. " (Prayer of Thomas More)

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Mateo 6:7-15)

"Sa inyo pagpangamuyo indi kamo maggamit sang madamo nga mga pulong nga wala sing pulos subong sang ginahimo sang mga pagano, nga nagahunahona nga pagapamatian sila sang Dios tungod kay malawig ang ila mga pangamuyo.

Indi kamo magmanginkaangay sa ila, kay ang inyo Amay nakahibalo na sang inyo kinahanglan sa wala pa kamo makapangamuyo.

Gani dapat kamo magpangamuyo sing subong sini: 'Amay namon nga yara sa langit, Pakabalaanon ang imo ngalan, Magkari ang imo Ginharian, Matuman ang imo kabubut-on diri sa duta subong man sa langit. Hatagi kami karon nga adlaw sang kalan-on nga amon kinahanglanon, Patawara kami sang amon mga sala, subong nga ginapatawad man namon ang mga nakasala sa amon. Indi kami pag-ipadaog sa mga pagsulay, kundi luwasa kami sa Malaut.'

"Kay kon ginapatawad ninyo ang mga nakasala sa inyo, ang inyo Amay sa langit magapatawad man sang inyo mga sala.

Pero kon wala ninyo ginapatawad ang mga nakasala sa inyo, ang inyo Amay sa langit indi man magpatawad sa inyo."

***

Meditation:
Do you believe that God’s word has power to change and transform your life today? Isaiah says that God’s word is like the rain and snow which makes the barren ground spring to life and become abundantly fertile (Isaiah 55:10-11). God’s word has power to penetrate our dry barren hearts and make them springs of new life. If we let God’s word take root in our heart it will transform us into the likeness of God himself and empower us to walk in his way of love and holiness. God wants his word to guide and shape the way we think, act, and pray. Ambrose, a fourth century church father, wrote that the reason we should devote time for reading scripture is to hear Christ speak to us. "Are you not occupied with Christ? Why do you not talk with him? By reading the scriptures, we listen to Christ."

We can approach God confidently because he is waiting with arms wide open to receive his prodigal sons and daughters. That is why Jesus gave his disciples the perfect prayer that dares to call God, Our Father. This prayer teaches us how to ask God for the things we really need, the things that matter not only for the present but for eternity as well. We can approach God our Father with confidence and boldness because Christ has opened the way to heaven for us through his death and resurrection. When we ask God for help, he fortunately does not give us what we deserve. Instead, he responds with grace, mercy, and kindness. He is good and forgiving towards us, and he expects us to treat our neighbor the same. God has poured his love into our hearts through the gift of the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). And that love is like a refining fire – it purifies and burns away all prejudice, hatred, resentment, vengeance, and bitterness until there is nothing left but goodness and forgiveness towards those who cause us grief or harm.

Consider what John Cassian, a 5th century church father who lived in a monastery in Bethlehem and then with Egyptian monks, wrote about the Lord’s Prayer and the necessity of forgiving others from the heart:

“The mercy of God is beyond description. While he is offering us a model prayer he is teaching us a way of life whereby we can be pleasing in his sight. But that is not all. In this same prayer he gives us an easy method for attracting an indulgent and merciful judgment on our lives. He gives us the possibility of ourselves mitigating the sentence hanging over us and of compelling him to pardon us. What else could he do in the face of our generosity when we ask him to forgive us as we have forgiven our neighbor? If we are faithful in this prayer, each of us will ask forgiveness for our own failings after we have forgiven the sins of those who have sinned against us, not only those who have sinned against our Master. There is, in fact, in some of us a very bad habit. We treat our sins against God, however appalling, with gentle indulgence: but when by contrast it is a matter of sins against us ourselves, albeit very tiny ones, we exact reparation with ruthless severity. Anyone who has not forgiven from the bottom of the heart the brother or sister who has done him wrong will only obtain from this prayer his own condemnation, rather than any mercy.” Do you treat others as you think they deserve to be treated, or do you treat them as the Lord has instructed us – with mercy, steadfast love, and kindness?

"Father in heaven, you have given me a mind to know you, a will to serve you, and a heart to love you. Give me today the grace and strength to embrace your holy will and fill my heart and mind with your truth and love that all my intentions and actions may be pleasing to you. Help me to be kind and forgiving towards my neighbor as you have been towards me."

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Mateo 16:13-19)

Nagkadto si Jesus sa kadutaan sang Cesarea Filipos sa diin nagpamangkot siya sa iya mga gintuton-an, "Sin-o bala ang Anak sang Tawo suno sa mga tawo?"

Nagsabat sila, "May nagasiling nga si Juan nga Bautista. May iban nga nagasiling nga si Elias kag may iban pa gid nga nagasiling nga si Jeremias ukon iban nga mga propeta."

Si Jesus nagpamangkot sa ila, "Pero suno sa inyo, sin-o bala ako?"

Si Simon Pedro nagsabat, "Ikaw ang Cristo, ang Anak sang Dios nga buhi!"

Si Jesus nagsabat, "Bulahan ka, Simon, anak ni Juan! Kay ini nga kamatuoran wala ginpahayag sa imo sang tawo, kundi sang akon Amay sa langit.

Kag ako nagasiling sa imo, ikaw si Pedro nga kon sayuron 'Bato' kag sa sini nga bato pagatukuron ko ang akon iglesya. Bisan ang gahom sang kamatayon indi makadaog sa iya.

Ihatag ko sa imo ang mga yabi sang Ginharian sang langit, kag kon ano ang imo ginadumilian sa duta pagadumilian mn didto sa langit, kag kon ano ang imo ginatugutan sa duta pagatugutan pagatugutan man didto sa langit."

***

Meditation:
At an opportune time Jesus tests his disciples with a crucial question: Who do men say that I am and who do you say that I am? He was widely recognized in Israel as a mighty man of God, even being compared with the greatest of the prophets, John the Baptist, Elijah, and Jeremiah. Peter, always quick to respond, exclaimed that he was the Christ, the Son of the living God. No mortal being could have revealed this to Peter; but only God. Jesus then confers on Peter authority to govern the church that Jesus would build, a church that no powers would overcome. Jesus plays on Peter's name which is the same word for "rock" in both Aramaic and Greek. To call someone a "rock" is one of the greatest of compliments. The ancient rabbis had a saying that when God saw Abraham, he exclaimed: "I have discovered a rock to found the world upon". Through Abraham God established a nation for himself. Through faith Peter grasped who Jesus truly was. He was the first apostle to recognize Jesus as the Anointed One (Messiah and Christ) and the only begotten Son of God. The New Testament describes the church as a spiritual house or temple with each member joined together as living stones (see 1 Peter 2:5). Faith in Jesus Christ makes us into rocks or spiritual stones. The Lord Jesus tests each of us personally with the same question: Who do you say that I am?

"Lord Jesus, I profess and believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. You are my Lord and my Savior. Make my faith strong like Peter's and give me boldness to speak of you to others that they may come to know you personally as Lord and Savior and grow in the knowledge of your love".

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Lucas 5:27-32)

Sa tapos sini naggwa si Jesus kag nakita niya si Levi nga isa ka manugsukot sang buhis nga yara sa iya opisina. Nagsiling si Jesus sa iya, "Upod ka sa akon."

Nagtindog si Levi, ginbayaan niya ang tanan kag nag-upod sa iya.

Dayon si Levi naghiwat sing dako nga punsyon sa iya balay para kay Jesus, kag didto upod nila ang madamo nga mga manugsukot sang buhis kag iban pa nga mga bisita.

May mga Pariseo kag mga manunudlo sang Kasuguan nga kaupod nila nga nagareklamo sa mga gintuton-an ni Jesus. Nagsiling sila, "Ngaa bala nga nagakaon kamo kag nagainom upod sa mga manugsukot sang buhis kag sa mga makasasala?"

Si Jesus nagsabat sa ila, "Ang maayo wala nagakinahanglan sang manugbolong, kundi ang nagamasakit lang.

Wala ako nagkari sa pagtawag sang mga matarong, kundi sang mga makasasala sa paghinulsol."

***

Meditation:
When your neighbor stumbles through sin or ignorance, do you point the finger to criticize or do you lend a helping hand to lift him up? The prophet Isaiah tells us that God repays in kind. When we bless others, especially those who need spiritual as well and physical help, God in turn blesses us. When Jesus called a despised tax collector to be his disciple he surprised everyone including Levi (also known as Matthew). The religious leaders were especially upset with Jesus’ behavior towards public sinners like Levi. People in Palestine were divided into roughly two groups: the orthodox Jews who rigidly kept the law and all its petty regulations, and the rest who didn't keep all the minute regulations. The orthodox treated the latter like second class citizens. They scrupulously avoided their company, refused to do business with them, refused to give or receive anything from them, refused to intermarry, and avoided any form of entertainment with them, including table fellowship. Jesus' association with the latter, especially with tax collectors and sinners, shocked the sensibilities of these orthodox Jews.

When the Pharisees challenged Jesus unorthodox behavior in eating with public sinners, Jesus' defence was quite simple. A doctor doesn't need to treat healthy people; instead he goes to those who are sick. Jesus likewise sought out those in the greatest need. A true physician seeks healing of the whole person – body, mind, and spirit. Jesus came as the divine physician and good shepherd to care for his people and to restore them to wholeness of life. The orthodox were so preoccupied with their own practice of religion that they neglected to help the very people who needed the greatest care. Their religion was selfish because they didn't want to have anything to do with people not like themselves. Jesus stated his mission in unequivocal terms: I came not to call the righteous, but to call sinners. Ironically the orthodox were as needy as those they despised. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Do you thank the Lord for the great mercy he has shown to you? And do you seek the good of all your neighbors and show them mercy and kindness?

What does it mean to “leave all and follow the Lord”? Bede the Venerable, a 7th century church father comments on Matthew’s conversion to discipleship: “By ‘follow’ he meant not so much the movement of feet as of the heart, the carrying out of a way of life. For one who says that he lives in Christ ought himself to walk just as he walked, not to aim at earthly things, not to pursue perishable gains, but to flee base praise, to embrace willingly the contempt of all that is worldly for the sake of heavenly glory, to do good to all, to inflict injuries upon no one in bitterness, to suffer patiently those injuries that come to oneself, to ask God’s forgiveness for those who oppress, never to seek one’s own glory but always God’s, and to uphold whatever helps one love heavenly things. This is what is meant by following Christ. In this way, disregarding earthly gains, Matthew attached himself to the band of followers of One who had no riches. For the Lord himself, who outwardly called Matthew by a word, inwardly bestowed upon him the gift of an invisible impulse so that he was able to follow.” Are you ready to forsake all for Christ?

"Lord Jesus, our Savior, let us now come to you: Our hearts are cold; Lord, warm them with your selfless love. Our hearts are sinful; cleanse them with your precious blood. Our hearts are weak; strengthen them with your joyous Spirit. Our hearts are empty; fill them with your divine presence. Lord Jesus, our hearts are yours; possess them always and only for yourself." (Prayer of Augustine, 354-430)

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Mateo 9:14-15)

Karon ang mga sumulunod ni Juan Bautista nagkadto kay Jesus nga nagapamangkot, "Ngaa nga kami kag ang mga Pariseo nagapuasa sang masunson, pero ang imo mga gintuoton-an wala gid nagapuasa?"

Si Jesus nagsabat, "Magakasubo bala ang mga inagda sa kasal samtang ang nobyo kaupod pa nila? Pero magaabot ang adlaw nga ang nobyo pagakuhaon sa ila kag amo na ina ang ila pagpuasa."

***

Meditation:
Are you hungry for God? Hungering for God and fasting for his kingdom go hand in hand. When asked why he and his disciples did not fast Jesus used the vivid picture of a wedding celebration. In Jesus' time the newly wed celebrated their honeymoon at home for a whole week with all the guests! This was a time of great feasting and celebrating. Jesus points to himself as the bridegroom and his disciples as the bridegroom's friends. He alludes to the fact that God takes delight in his people as a groom delights in his bride (Isaiah 62:5). To be in God's presence is pure delight and happiness. But Jesus also reminds his followers that there is a time for fasting and for humbling oneself in preparation for the coming of God's kingdom and for the return of the Messianic King. The Lord's disciples must also bear the cross of affliction and purification. For the disciple there is both a time for rejoicing in the Lord's presence and celebrating his goodness and a time for seeking the Lord with humility, fasting, and mourning for sin. If we hunger for the Lord, he will not disappoint us. His grace draws us to his throne of mercy and favor. Do you seek the Lord with confident trust and allow his Holy Spirit to transform your life with his power and grace?

What kind of fasting is pleasing to God? Fasting can be done for a variety of reasons – to gain freedom from some bad habit, addiction, or vice, to share in the suffering of those who go without, or to grow in our hunger for God and for the things of heaven. Basil the Great wrote: “Take heed that you do not make fasting to consists only in abstinence from meats. True fasting is to refrain from vice. Shred to pieces all your unjust contracts. Pardon your neighbors. Forgive them their trespasses.” Do you hunger to know God more, to grow in his holiness, and to live the abundant life of grace he has to offer you?

"Come Lord, work upon us, set us on fire and clasp us close, be fragrant to us, draw us to your loveliness, let us love, let us run to you." (Prayer of St. Augustine)

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Lucas 4:14-22)

Dayon nagbalik si Jesus sa Galilea nga ang gahom sang Espiritu Santo yara sa iya. Naglapnag sa sadto nga lugar ang balita parte sa iya.

Nagpanudlo siya sa mga simbahan sang mga Judio kag gindayaw siya sang tanan.

Dayon nagkadto si Jesus sa Nazaret. Amo ini ang lugar sa diin siya nagdako. Nagkadto siya sa simbahan sang mga Judio sang Adlaw nga Inugpahuway suno sa iya kinabatasan. Nagtindog siya agod magbasa sang Kasulatan.

Ginhatag sa iya ang sinulatan ni propeta Isaias. Ginhumlad niya ini kag pagkakita niya sang bahin sang kasulatan nga iya ginapangita, ginbasa niya dayon nga nagasiling: "Ang Espiritu sang Ginoo yari sa akon. Kay ginpili niya ako nga magwali sang maayong balita sa mga imol. Ginpadala niya ako sa pagbantala sa mga bihag nga hilway na sila, kag sa mga bulag nga makakita na sila. Ginpadala niya ako sa paghilway sa mga ginadaugdaog, kag sa pagbantala sa mga tawo nga amo na ini ang tion nga luwason sila sang Ginoo."

Dayon ginlukot ni Jesus ang iya ginbasa kag ginbalik sa manugbulig sang simbahan. Nagpungko siya dayon agod magsugod sa pagtudlo. Ang tanan nga tawo nagtulok gid sa iya.

Siling ni Jesus sa ila, "Ini nga bahin sang Kasulatan natuman na karon nga adlaw samtang ginapamatian ninyo ang pagbasa sini."

Gindayaw siya sang tanan kag dako gid ang ila katingala sa iya matahom nga mga pulong. Siling nila, "Indi bala anak lang siya ni Jose?"

***

Meditation:

In Jesus we see the grace of God in action. His gracious words brought hope, joy, and favor to those who were ready to receive him. Where did Jesus began his public ministry? In his own land of Galilee where he was reared from his youth in Nazareth. His proclamation of the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah brought wonder to his kin and townsfolk. Isaiah had prophesied that the Messiah would come in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring freedom to those oppressed by sin and evil (see Isaiah 61:1-2). Jesus awakened their hope in the promises of God. They, in turn, received his words favorably and wondered what would become of "Joseph's son". Their hearts were hungry for the word of life and they looked to Jesus with anticipation and wonder. Do you look to Jesus with confidence and hope in the fulfillment of all God's promises?

What did Jesus come to do for us? He came to set us free from the worst tyranny possible – slavery to sin and the fear of death, and the eternal destruction of both body and soul. God's power alone can save us from emptiness and poverty of spirit, from confusion and error, and from hopelessness and the fear of annihilation. The gospel of salvation is "good news" for us today. Do you know the joy and freedom of the gospel?

"Lord Jesus, you are the fulfillment of all our hopes and dreams. Through the gift of your Holy Spirit you bring us grace, life, truth, and freedom. Fill me with the joy of the gospel and inflame my heart with love and zeal for your kingdom and your will for my life."

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Marcos 6:45-52)

Pagkatapos sadto, ginsugo ni Jesus ang iya mga sumulunod nga magsakay sa sakayan kag mag-una didto sa Betsaida, sa tabok sang linaw, samtang ginapapauli niya ang mga tawo.

Sang nakahalin na ang mga tawo nagtaklad siya sa bukid agod magpangamuyo.

Pagkagab-i, ang sakayan didto na sa tunga sang linaw, pero si Jesus didto pa sa takas nga nagaisahanon lang.

Nakita niya nga ginabudlayan sila sa pagbugsay, kay nagasugata ang hangin. Sang kaagahon na, nagkadto siya didto sa ila nga nagalakat sa ibabaw sang tubig. Maagi lang siya kuntani sa ila, pero pagkakita nila sa iya nga nagalakat sa ibabaw sang tubig, hinadlukan gid sila kag nagsinggit, "Bagat!" Pero nagsiling si Jesus sa ila, "Indi kamo magkahadlok, ako ini! Magpakaisog kamo!"

Nagsakay siya dayon sa sakayan kag nag-untat ang mabaskog nga hangin. Kag natingala gid sila,

Kay bisan nakita na nila ang milagro nga ginhimo niya sa tinapay, wala pa gid sila makaintiendi sang kahulugan sadto, tungod nga nadulman pa ang ila hunahuna.

***

Meditation:

Does the Lord ever seem distant to you? After the great miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, Jesus sends his disciples away to fend for themselves in the dark of the night while a storm begins to brew on the sea. Although they were experienced fishermen, they were fearful for their lives. The Lord’s sudden presence on the sea only made them more fearful! Mark says they were terrified (verse 50), not only because the sea was threatening to drown them. When they saw Jesus walking on the water, they thought he was a ghost waiting for their imminent destruction. Jesus had to calm them with his reassuring voice: “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” Jesus gave them the courage to cast their anxiety and fear on him who is Lord of the seas as well as their lives. Scripture reminds us that no fear can overtake us if we put our trust in God's love and care for us. John the Evangelist tells us that God's love abides in us and perfect love casts out fear. (1 John 4:16,18).

Aren’t we like the apostles when we experience trials and adversity? While the Lord may at times seem distant to us, he, nonetheless is constantly present at our side. The scriptures remind us that the Lord is “a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Whatever storms make beset us, he promises to “bring us to our desired haven” (Psalm 107:29-30). The Lord keeps watch over us at all times, and especially in our moments of temptation and difficulty. Do you rely on the Lord for his strength and help? Jesus assures us that we have no need of fear if we trust in Him and in his great love for us. When calamities and trials threaten to overwhelm you, how do you respond? With fear and panic, or with faith and trust in God's love and presence with you?

“Lord Jesus, may I never doubt your saving help and watchful presence, especially in times of adversity. Fortify my faith with courage and hope that I may never waver in my trust in you”.

Gospel of the Day (Luke 2:22-40)

When Jesus had crossed again (in the boat) to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea.

One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, "My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live."

He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.

She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.

She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak.

She said, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured."

Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who has touched my clothes?"

But his disciples said to him, "You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, 'Who touched me?'"

And he looked around to see who had done it.

The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.

He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction."

While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official's house arrived and said, "Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?"

Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, "Do not be afraid; just have faith."

He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.

When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly.

So he went in and said to them, "Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep."

And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child's father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was.

He took the child by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!"

The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. (At that) they were utterly astounded.

He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.

***

Reflections:

"Why this weeping? The child is asleep"

«When Jesus arrived at the official's house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said: 'Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.' And they ridiculed him.» Jesus teaches us in this way not to fear death since death is death no more: from now on it is only a sleep. And he prepares his disciples, by raising others, to put their trust in him and not be alarmed by his death as he himself was about to die. For ever since Christ's coming, death is no more than a sleep.

However, they ridiculed him. But he was not indignant at this refusal of trust in the miracle he was about to carry out; he did not condemn their smiles, so that the smiles themselves, along with the flutes and other preparations, should confirm the little girl's death. Seeing the musicians and the crowd, then, Jesus sent them all out. He accomplished this miracle in the presence of her parents... as though awakening her from sleep...

It is clear that death is now no more than a sleep. Today it is a truth that shines more brightly than the sun. «But,» you say, «Christ did not raise my child!» Yes, but he will raise him up and with even greater glory. Because this little girl whose life he restored died again, whereas your child, when he has raised him up again, will abide forever. So let no one weep any more, let no one groan, no one criticize Christ's work. For he has conquered death. Why are you weeping useless tears? Death has become a sleep: why do you moan and weep?

Gospel of the Day (Luke 2:22-40)

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord," and to offer the sacrifice of "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons," in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the holy Spirit was upon him.

It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord.

He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel."

The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.

And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

***

Reflections:

«My eyes have seen your salvation»

Come then, my brethren, give an eye to that candle burning in Simeon's hands. Light your candles too by borrowing from that Light; for these candles I speak of are the lamps which the Lord orders us to have in our hands (Mt 25,1; Lk 12,35). Come to him and be enlightened (Ps 34[33], 6), so as to be not merely carrying lamps but to be very lamps yourselves, shining inside and out, for yourselves and for your neighbors.

Be a lamp then in heart, in hand, in lips. The lamp in your heart will shine for you; the lamp in your hand or on your lips will shine out for your neighbors. The lamp in the heart is loving faith; the lamp in the hand is the example of good works; the lamp on the lips is edifying speech. But not just before men must we shine by works and word, but before angels too by prayer, and before God himself by pure intention. Our lamp before the angels is the purity of our devotion when in the sight of angels we chant the psalms with care or pray with burning ardor; our lamp before God is the honesty of our intention to please him only whose approval we have won...

There are so many lamps then, my brethren, to lighten your way, if only you will come to the source of all light and be enlightened. Come, I say, to Jesus who shines out to us from Simeon's arms. He will give light to your faith, luster to your works, meaning to your words for men, ardor to your prayer, purity to your intentions... And when this life's lamp is extinguished there will arise a life's light which can never be extinguished, a shimmering noonday light, arising as it were at the evening of your life.

Gospel of the Day (Mark 4:21-25)

He said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand?

For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light.

Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear."

He also told them, "Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you.

To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."

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Reflections:

"Nothing is secret except to come to light"

Do your best to meet more often to give thanks and glory to God. When you meet frequently, the powers of Satan are confounded, and in the face of your corporate faith his maleficence crumbles. Nothing can better a state of peaceful accord, from which every trace of spiritual or earthly hostility has been banished.

Given a thorough-going faith and love for Jesus Christ, there is nothing in all this that will not be obvious to you; for life begins and ends with those two qualities. Faith is the beginning, and love is the end; and the union of the two together is God. All that makes for a soul's perfection follows in their train, for nobody who professes faith will commit sin, and nobody who possesses love can feel hatred. As «the tree is known by its fruits» (Mt 12,33), so they who claim to belong to Christ are known by their actions; for this work of ours does not consist in just making professions, but in a faith that is both practical and lasting.

Indeed, it is better to keep quiet and be, than to make fluent professions and not be. No doubt it is a fine thing to instruct others, but only if the speaker practises what he preaches. We have only one teacher (Mt 23,8): He who «spoke the word, and it was done» (Ps 33[32],9); and what He achieved even by His silences was well worthy of the Father. A man who has truly mastered the utterances of Jesus will also be able to apprehend His silence, and thus reach full spiritual maturity, so that his own words have the force of actions and his silences the significance of speech. Nothing is hidden from the Lord; even our most secret thoughts are ever present to Him. Whatever we do, then, let it be done as though He Himself were dwelling within us, we being as it were His temples and He within us as their God. For in fact that is literally the case; and in proportion as we rightly love Him, so it will become clear to our eyes.

Gospel of the Day (Mark 4:1-20)

On another occasion he began to teach by the sea. A very large crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down. And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land.

And he taught them at length in parables, and in the course of his instruction he said to them, Hear this! A sower went out to sow.

And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.

And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots.

Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain.

And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."

He added, "Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear."

And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the parables.

He answered them, "The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, so that 'they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.'"

Jesus said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables?

The sower sows the word.

These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them.

And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy.

But they have no root; they last only for a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit.

But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold."

***

Reflections:

"Those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit"

Truly it is «a trustworthy word and deserving of every welcome» (1Thes 1,15), your almighty Word, Lord, which in such deep silence made its way down from the Father's royal throne (Wis 18,14f.) into the mangers of animals and meanwhile speaks to us better by its silence. «Let him who has ears to hear, hear» what this loving and mysterious silence of the eternal Word speaks to us...

For what recommends the discipline of silence with such weight and such authority, what checks the evil of restless tongues and the storms of words, as the Word of God silent in the midst of men. «There is no word on my tongue» (Ps 139[138],4), the almighty Word seems to confess while he is subject to his mother. What madness then will prompt us to say: "With our tongues we can do great things; our lips are good friends to us; we own no master" (Ps 11,5). If I were allowed I would gladly be dumb and be brought low, and be silent even from good things,21 that I might be able the more attentively and diligently to apply my ear to the secret utterances and sacred meaning of this divine silence, learning in silence in the school of the Word if only for as long as the Word himself was silent under the instruction of his mother...

«The Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us» (Jn 1,14). With complete devotion, then, let us think of Christ in the swaddling clothes with which his mother wrapped him, so that with eternal happiness we may see the glory and beauty with which his Father has clothed him.

Gospel of the Day (Luke 10:1-9)

After this the Lord appointed seventy (-two) others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit.

He said to them, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.

Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.

Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way.

Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.'

If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.

Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another.

Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom of God is at hand for you.'

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Reflections:

Saints Timothy and Titus, successors of the apostles

The community, born from the proclamation of the Gospel, recognizes that it was called by the words of those who were the first to experience the Lord and were sent out by him.
It knows that it can count on the guidance of the Twelve, as well as that of those who were gradually associated with them as their successors in the ministry of the Word and in the service of communion. Consequently, the community feels committed to transmit to others the "Good News" of the actual presence of the Lord and of his Paschal Mystery, brought about in the Spirit.

This is clearly highlighted and visible in certain passages of the Pauline Letters: "I delivered to you... what I also received" (I Cor 15: 3). And this is important. St Paul, it is well-known, originally called by Christ with a personal vocation, was a real Apostle, yet for him too, fidelity to what he received was fundamentally important. He did not want "to invent" a new, so-to-speak, "Pauline" Christianity. Therefore, he insisted, "I have passed on to you what I too received". He passed on the initial gift that comes from the Lord and the truth that saves. Then, towards the end of his life, he wrote to Timothy: "Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us (II Tm 1: 14).

It is also effectively demonstrated by this ancient testimony of the Christian faith written by Tertullian in about the year 200: "(The Apostles) after first bearing witness to the faith in Jesus Christ throughout Judea and founding Churches (there), they next went forth into the world and preached the same doctrine of the same faith to the nations. They then in like manner founded Churches in every city, from which all the other Churches, one after another, derived the tradition of the faith and the seeds of doctrine, and are every day deriving them, that they may become Churches. Indeed, it is on this account only that they will be able to deem themselves apostolic, as being the offspring of apostolic Churches" .

Gospel of the Day (Mark 3:13-19)

He went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him.

He appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons: (he appointed the twelve:) Simon, whom he named Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

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Reflections:

"He summoned those whom he wanted "

This Sacred Council, following closely in the footsteps of the First Vatican Council, with that Council teaches and declares that Jesus Christ, the eternal Shepherd, established His holy Church, having sent forth the apostles as He Himself had been sent by the Father; and He willed that their successors, namely the bishops, should be shepherds in His Church even to the consummation of the world. And in order that the episcopate itself might be one and undivided, He placed Blessed Peter over the other apostles, and instituted in him a permanent and visible source and foundation of unity of faith and communion...

The Lord Jesus, after praying to the Father, calling to Himself those whom He desired, appointed twelve to be with Him, and whom He would send to preach the Kingdom of God; and these apostles He formed after the manner of a college or a stable group, over which He placed Peter chosen from among them. He sent them first to the children of Israel and then to all nations, so that as sharers in His power they might make all peoples His disciples, and sanctify and govern them, and thus spread His Church, and by ministering to it under the guidance of the Lord, direct it all days even to the consummation of the world. And in this mission they were fully confirmed on the day of Pentecost in accordance with the Lord's promise: "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and in Samaria, and even to the very ends of the earth".

And the apostles, by preaching the Gospel everywhere, and it being accepted by their hearers under the influence of the Holy Spirit, gather together the universal Church, which the Lord established on the apostles and built upon blessed Peter, their chief, Christ Jesus Himself being the supreme cornerstone. That divine mission, entrusted by Christ to the apostles, will last until the end of the world, since the Gospel they are to teach is for all time the source of all life for the Church.